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HELENA- Hunters in Montana can get an early start on making plans for the upcoming season thanks to recent license-purchase and special permit-application deadline changes.

This year hunting and fishing licenses go on sale January 16th and the deadline for residents and nonresidents to apply for deer and elk permits has moved up to March 15th.

In past years, new hunting licenses would go on sale at the end of February and special deer and elk permits were due June 1.

The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Commission recently adjusted the dates in response to public comment.

"Now resident and nonresident hunters will have their drawing results by mid-April, instead of the end of July," said Ron Aasheim, FWP spokesman in Helena. "That gives hunters three additional months to make plans, scout hunting areas, get in shape, and talk to landowners."

Resident and nonresident applications and information, including application success tips, will be available online.

Paper applications and information will be available from FWP offices and license providers by January 18th.

Hunters will also notice that the permit application packet has been revamped and simplified.

"We've heard for years that the application process is too complicated," Aasheim said. "In response to the deadline change we boiled down 120 pages of hunting regulations to an eight-page information and application packet."

Montana's traditional deer, elk and antelope hunting regulations will still be available in early April.

FWP continues to urge hunters to apply online. "It's fast, it's convenient and it's always accurate," Aasheim said. "The online system won't allow you to submit an application that contains an error. This year, we're really encouraging hunters to read the application information, and then carefully fill out a paper application to guide their online submissions."

Aasheim said the best tip he can offer is to start hunting plans early, but hold off on submitting deer and elk permit applications until sometime after February 16th.

"There are many hunting districts with ‘pending' quotas that won't be finalized by the FWP Commission until Feb. 16. If you are interested in applying for one of the pending hunting districts, check the FWP website after the Feb. 16 meeting, make your choices and then submit your application."

Nonresidents who wish to apply for big game combination, elk combination or deer combination licenses and deer and elk permits for the 2012 fall Montana hunting season can also apply online or download an application from FWP's website beginning Jan. 16.

To request an application by mail, write to: Licensing Section; Montana FWP; P.O. Box 200701, Helena MT; 59620-0701; or call: (406) 444.2950. The application deadline is March 15th.

Aasheim stressed that the deadline to apply for moose, sheep, goat and bison licenses remains May 1. June 1 remains the deadline to apply for antlerless deer B and elk B licenses and antelope and antelope B licenses.

Montana's upcoming hunting and fishing license year runs from March 1 to Feb. 28, 2013.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks reports that about 60 percent of the statewide wolf quota of 220 wolves has been met in Montana's 2011-2012 wolf hunting season.

A total of 100 wolves were taken during the regular archery and rifle seasons Sept. 3.-Nov. 27. The FWP Commission then extended the wolf hunting season until Feb. 15, or until the statewide quota is met. This season extension resulted in the harvest of an additional 33 wolves as of Jan. 11.

The commission will consider an additional wolf hunting season extension in the Bitterroot at its Jan. 19 meeting.

The FWP Commission has removed the requirement for wolf hunters to wear hunter orange during the extended season.

"Hunters may not realize that there are good, accessible areas for wolf hunting remaining, and that there are still open quotas," said Quentin Kujala, FWP fish and wildlife section chief. "For those wanting to harvest a wolf, now is the time."

For up-to-date information on the quota status of Montana's wolf management units go to the wolf hunting guide on the Hunting page at fwp.mt.gov.

Kujala reminds hunters that a wolf harvest must be reported within 12 hours of harvest by calling 877-397-9453 or 1-877-FWP-WILD.

Wolf, winter lion hunting with hounds, and trapping seasons continue in Montana where applicable quotas have not been met. Montana's bison hunting season by special permit closes Feb. 15.

Hunters can track quotas and when hunts close by going to the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov , or calling toll-free: 1-800-385-7826.

Trappers interested in the 2011-2012 season must obtain a license over the counter before the end of February. Trapping licenses purchased after Nov. 30 are not valid for bobcat or wolverine.

The last of Montana's waterfowl and upland game bird seasons and falconry season closed earlier this month.

INCOME TAX CHECK-OFF FUND HELPS MONTANA'S NONGAME WILDLIFE

By Diane Tipton, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Statewide Information Officer

The annual nongame income tax check-off fund, a voluntary check-off contribution on the Montana income tax form, is an important funding source for management of the state's nongame wildlife species.

The first nongame biologist hired by FWP in 1974 oversaw some 500 nongame species in Montana with an extremely limited budget. While hunter and angler license revenue has supported management of big game and fish from the earliest days of fish and game management, there was no designated state revenue source for nongame species.

That began to change in 1983 when a new law allowed taxpayers to donate a portion of their tax refund to nongame wildlife management. Today, tax form check-off contributions are a critical source of matching funds for State Wildlife Grants, federal funds that states can access for nongame species in need. Some projects include private funding too.

In the past 28 years, the income tax check-off has raised more than $496,000 to support native, nongame species conservation, monitoring, management and public education. Every $10 donated may be matched up to three times with federal dollars.

Wildlife viewers who enjoy watching bats, loons, amphibians and a variety of songbirds will especially appreciate FWP's Nongame Wildlife Program. For example, one new program involves proactive surveillance for white-nose syndrome in bats. Bat population declines of 80-97 percent have been recorded in the northeastern and mid-Atlantic states that were affected by this rapidly spreading infectious disease.

Statistics suggest Montana's wildlife viewers don't hesitate to spend money to support their interest in nongame wildlife. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey in 2001 indicates wildlife viewers, the majority of them birdwatchers, spent about $350 million in Montana for bird feed, bird feeders, gas, motel rooms, books and other items. In 2001, $15 million went to bird feeding alone in Montana.

Now Montanans can direct a portion of their generous wildlife viewing budget to the Nongame Wildlife Program to benefit a variety of wildlife in the most need, as determined by the biologists who study these species.

When filling out the 2011 Montana income tax form this year, check the box to make a voluntary, tax-deductible contribution to Montana's Nongame Wildlife Program. To learn more about the program, go to the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov on the "Fish & Wildlife" page